> > > Wet Leather : The Gather 99 : Departure



5 August 1999


The night before -- pack and re-check. Use H.Marc's handy list to
help get me organized. The new Rev-Pak holds everything nicely,
including the Walrus chair that I bought in the hopes it would fit.
Goodness this is a lot of camping stuff! But it's the lightest I've
ever packed, clothes -wise. Leather tends to minimize the wardrobe
requirements.

Can't sleep! I'm way too wired/excited. The morning comes soon, 
though, and I'm outta bed with a bound. (Not my normal morning self.)

Breakfast, pack. Kiss Dan and Peaches goodbye (Dan gets "bike loaded"
shots). Am off. We're to meet at the WalMart in Renton at 9 - it's
not quite 8:30. I get two exits down the road and realize -- damnation!
I forgot Rain Gear! Turn around and now I get to fight rush hour
traffic, even in the car pool lane. Well, I'll be late.

JC had just arrived moments before I did. I run inside for allergy
meds (this is the cheapest generic pharmacy In The World). Then
we're off -- I lead down 167 to 512. We're going to minimize the
time spent on I5, but are stuck with the slab from south Tacoma
to Chehalis.

Stop in Chehalis for stretch, water, mapcheck and lead swap. We're
now moving to SRs and CRs and JC is captain. It's not been 15
minutes, however, and we hit road construction. Not just any
road construction -- gravel. I think the sign said 1.25 miles.

And it's stop and go. First stop, JC grins at me "You OK with
this?" Like I have a choice - going forward is a lot easier than
trying to do a U-turn! Besides, once I remember to weight my pegs,
this isn't too bad. Packed gravel, then dirt, then some soft 
stuff ... back on tarmac and headed for Longview along the river.

Cross over into Oregon and take 30 west toward Clatskanie. Stop
for pizza before we head down 47 and other cool (twisty) roads
to SR6. I can't keep up with JC, but I'm having a blast!

Head west on SR6 to Tillamook. I wanna visit Tillamook Cheese.
(I used to work in the dairy industry and love their sharp
cheddar.) My goodness it looks like a theme park! Cars and buses
everywhere. Inside, we grab ice cream, walk through the self-paced
exhibits, buy cheese and scram. 

We're now headed down Three Cape Loop, which runs west of US 101
from Tillamook to Pacific City. Right Along The Ocean. Still, we 
manage to find not One But TWO more Gravel Experiences (tm).
It's a beautiful ride, and we stop to visit one of the lighthouses.



Back on 101, RV Traffic isn't too bad. We decide to try for
Beverly Beach State Park, and get the last campsite. A drive-thru,
which means lots of space to park the bikes. And a huge treed
area, plenty large for two tents. We set up in twilight.

Chat and a touch of WL Germain-Robin brandy, and we call it a day.
350 miles. And I have no more knobbies on my new rear tire! 


Oregon Trails 




> > > Wet Leather : The Gather 99 : Departure